"Line of Duty" Operation Pear Tree (TV Episode 2019) Poster

(TV Series)

(2019)

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9/10
Back with a huge opener.
Sleepin_Dragon1 May 2019
I feared that the success of Bodyguard may have turned Mercurio's attention away from Line of Duty, fortunately not the case, as the fifth series opens with a barnstorming episode.

They of course present a terrific, gritty story, we're already lost in a layered complex plot, we of course have great characters, and top performances, but it's the show's ability to shock that once again wins through.

Stephen Graham was awesome as always. This is going to be another awesome series. 9/10
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9/10
Police undercover
user-18463-112588 April 2019
"Line of Duty" is a work of fiction. Consequently undercover police officers are not primarily targeting trade unions, peace and environmental campaigns. Instead they are involved in the rather more hazardous activity of infiltrating OCG. That is one of many acronyms in the series and stands for "Organised Crime Gang."

The series is full of unexpected twists and turns which, as in previous series, keep the viewers on the edge of their seats.

It addresses the issue of how far an undercover officer has to act like a criminal in order to infiltrate a gang. They would be spotted and probably killed if they failed to join in with robberies but what about killing other police officers to gain credibility?
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9/10
Another Great Start
Crowby12 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The opening episode of Line Of Duty series 5 did not disappoint. As usual a tight script and great storytelling throughout. The AC-12 regulars putting in a solid performance as always but Stephen Graham as the lead antagonist of this series shows a lot of promise, just from this first episode. A fantastic actor in everything I've seen him in, and wonderfully menacing in this. It seems we still have lots to learn about his character and in particular his female accomplice especially after that amazing rug pull cliffhanger at the end of the episode. The type of trope that Line Of Duty does so well. Looking forward to next week's episode!
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DC Arnott got hosed.
sbcollotzi23 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Been bingeing this series for awhile now. Still love it and the characters. But opening of S5, we find that DC Fleming has been promoted ahead of Steve. He had more time at DC, more experience, and don't forget, he was fighting to find the bad guy even while being wrongly investigated himself. He should be the new DI. Just saying.
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8/10
Another very good opener
snoozejonc4 April 2023
AC12 attempt to investigate the deaths of three police officers but are obstructed by an undercover operation.

This is a strong start to series 5 that hooks the audience well.

It sets the scene with solid introductions to new faces and updates to the lives of the main characters. I find the investigation to be intriguing from the opening scene and as certain scenes link to the overarching series narrative it gets even better.

There are some key aspects of the story, particularly regarding the identity of a certain individual, that I personally find very predictable. This is not necessarily a negative, as it can be fun to guess what's coming in a plot.

All the main actors are on great form as always and Stephen Graham is a great addition to the cast.
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8/10
Bindra Reaps her Karma
Warin_West-El21 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Last season PC Maneet Bindra was leaking information. This episode she gets hauled in to be interrogated by her colleagues with her career possibly in tatters.

Not one to learn from her mistakes, Bindra doubles down on her treachery and begins to work for the criminals who have Vihaan Malhotra in a bind. Bindra is clearly out of her element and is like a mouse who foolishly decides to play with cats.

In the final scene we see what happens when idealism is out of balance with rationality. Bindra reaps her karma. And we can't feel sorry for her. Because she had plenty of opportunity to amend her ways but didn't. Bye Bindra!
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6/10
Episode 5.1
Prismark102 April 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Writer Jed Mercurio threw in three interrogation scenes by AC-12 in the opening episode of series 5.

The action started with a lorry being ambushed despite having a police escort. £100m worth of heroin was being moved from a police warehouse to an incinerator. The clever ambush left three police officers dead and another wounded. She was spared by the woman in the balaclava gang.

AC-12 find out that another police operation has involvement in this hijack much to AC-12s frustration. They later discover that an undercover police officer may have gone rogue as nothing been heard from him for months.

What the episode does do is deal with are some loose ends from series 4. PC Maneet Bindra who was leaking information in the last series is hauled in to be interrogated by her colleagues with her career possibly in tatters.

Mercurio also teases the audience. Is Hastings corrupt? Hastings is in the throes of divorce and living in a hotel with maybe money issues.

Not quiet up there with Line of Duty's high standards for an opener. Yet I can see there are a lot of dangling threads that can go anywhere in this series. By the time the episode ends I can see Mercurio's writing is still sharp.
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4/10
Same school of acting as Bodyguard
brucemiddlemissphotography1 April 2019
The story has really good potential and the concept is great. I am also interested to see how the ongoing corruption from previous series fits in but omg the acting of the two main characters is painful. I put this down mostly to the script. The DS basically spends the whole time explaining police procedure as though he is reading it from a book.

When they questioned the cop in the hospital or the civilian member of staff they sounded forced and insincere.

Stephen Graham came across well as did the main female protagonist.

I feel awful as the two main cop actors seem competent but the script is awful. I know the DS is probably quite realistic in the way interviews flow but it just seems so false.

It is the same problem I had with Bodyguard. Great story idea poorly executed.

Let's hope the story keeps it tight and exciting and we can hopefully overlook the script and it's delivery.
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7/10
Procedure heavy, humorless, far fetched plots, pointless personal background stories. I kinda like it.
phlbrq586 May 2020
A year ago I watched 4 seasons and liked it though on rewatch the above headline occurred to me. Top tier guest stars along with the narrative momentum takes you pass the preposterous plot contrivances. The self righteous tone is almost intolerable on re-viewing. It occurs to me now the story momentum cannot accommodate humor or any sort of distraction into true humanity. I wasn't a '24' fan and this feels like a that. Once U know what happens rewatching is pointless. Ridiculous amounts of tech emphasize the inhumanity. Mark Crispin Miller wrote that our dominant culture most admires robots. I think it's a valid observation.
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6/10
Expectations
Rachemum-169597 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Loved it all, then....... Morse code ......... Nope
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6/10
Ergh
Rachemum-169597 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Ridiculous ending, so disappointed Such a fab stat terrible en ding
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6/10
No sparks
xmasdaybaby196622 April 2021
Weaker than previous series openers. Less dramatic and engaging.

Lots of familiar faces which is off putting making you wonder which shows they have been in before and the actors are wearing much more make up than previously.

With its track record, it is worth continuing. A good job this isn't the pilot episode of a series of I might switch off.
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